Last baby of 2012 born at Freeman West

JOPLIN — Ashley and Heather Rodgers of Joplin rang in the New Year with the birth of their second daughter, Lylah Jean Rodgers, and didn't get to see the ball drop in New York.

Todd G. Higdon

JOPLIN — Ashley and Heather Rodgers of Joplin rang in the New Year with the birth of their second daughter, Lylah Jean Rodgers, and didn't get to see the ball drop in New York.

"We were just too busy with the baby," said Ashley. "We actually moved to this room at 9:30 p.m. or so and just passing her around between the two of us, that was our main night."

The baby was born at Freeman West Hospital, Joplin.

Lylah was born at 7:04 p.m. Dec. 31, weighing 7 pounds, 7 ounces and measuring 21 inches long. She has a 6-year-old sister as well.

Asked if they expected to be ringing in the New Year with a baby, Ashley said, "I actually never thought of it, no I never thought starting a new year, a new process with a baby, I never thought of that. This pregnancy was different for her. As it got closer, I thought we were going to have one pretty soon, I didn't know that it would be now."

Heather added, "we were hoping for Christmas."

The actual due date for Lylah was Jan. 7.

As far as how they came up with the name, Heather said she loved the name 'Lylah.' "It was just a name that I heard years ago and I liked it. And Jean is my mom's middle name," she said.

With the new baby and the New Year, the parents were asked if they had any resolutions to offer.

"Just as long as we keep focused that we are going to raise her in a Christian home, that is the main thing," he said. As Heather held her daughter on Jan. 1 during media interviews, she was asked how pleased she was to hold her."So excited," she said. "I was so ready to get her here and hold her in my arms."

The parents anticipated taking their baby home Wednesday, with the room ready to go for their newborn.

"She is going to go home in camouflage," Ashley said. "I love hunting. And our other daughter, she loves to go out and go hunting and fishing. So I kind of wanted to rub it off on this one, too."

Ashley said their other daughter would be a big help with Lylah.

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